Carpet-stretcher



(N0 Mddel.)

- E. P.-SHAFFER. CARPET STRETGHER Patented Jan. '29

UNrrEn STATES PATENT UFFICE.

EDWARD r. SHAFFER, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

.CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,693, dated January29, 1884.

Application filed September 29, 1883. (No model.)

I0 all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, E. P. SHAFFER', of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements inOarpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to provide a simple and portable device bymeans of which carpets may be subjected to a powerful stretchinginfluence while upon the floor, and this without injuring the fabric. 7

To this end it consists in a peculiar construction and combination ofdevices, hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of mydevice as it appears when in an operative position; Fig. 2, alongitudinal section through one end of the same, with the parts inposition for application to the carpet.

Referring to thedrawings, A represents the base-frame, consisting of twoparallel bars connected at one end with each other by a pivotpin, a, andat the opposite end by a cross-plate, b, which is provided with adepending stud or tooth, 0, designed to enter the floor adjacent to thewall, for the purpose of holding the frame rigidly in position. The sidebars of the frame are grooved in their inner faces to admit a slidingplate, d, which is mounted therein, this plate being connected by a rod,0, with ahand-lever, f, the lower end of which is mounted in the end ofthe main frame uponthe pivot a, before mentioned, so that by the move-.ment of the hand-lever the slide may be caused to reciprocatelongitudinally within the frame. To the sliding plate (Z, I secure leverg, the lower end of which is-expanded laterally and armed with a seriesof points or teeth, h, designed to enter and holdthe fabric. a Asrepresented in Fig. 2, the lever g is curved in its under rear side, andreceives support from a corresponding curved surface formed in thesliding plate, this arrangement permitting the lever to betippedvertically in order that its teeth or points may first be throwndownward for engagement with the fabric and afterward elevated to ahorizontal position, while at the same time'the lever rethe plate.

For the purpose of locking the lever after engagement with the fabric, Imount upon the sliding plate a pivoted finger, i, adapted to engage witha corresponding shoulder, k, formed upon the lever, as plainlyrepresented in Figs. 1 and 2. When the teeth are to be engaged with thefabric, the dog is disconnected and the lever g tipped downward in themanner represented in Fig. 2, after which it is returned to its originalposition, and secured by means of the dog, as shown in Fig. l.

- For the purpose of locking the slide (2 in its forward position andmaintaining the strain which has been applied thereby to the fabric, thearm 6 is extended rearward through and beyond thelever f, and isprovided at its extremity with a pivoted dog,-l, the upper free end ofwhich is adapted to engage in a toothed plate, m, secured to the leverfor the purpose, as-plainly represented in Fig. 1.

In making use of the device constructed as above, the dog 1 isdisengaged and the lever raised for the purpose of moving the slide d tothe outer or rear end of the frame. The tooth or stud 0 is then pressedsecurely into the floor adjacent to the wall, the lever 9 manipulated tocause the engagement of its teeth with the fabric, and locked inposition to the dog i, and, finally, the lever f thrown forward, therebyadvancing the plate (I, with its toothed lever g, stretching the fabricand forcing its edge to the wall, the dog 1 engaging, during thisoperation, automatically in the plate m, locking the arts against aretrograde motion.

.While it 1s preferred to mount the lever g in the peculiar mannerrepresented, it is manifest that it may be otherwise connected with thesliding plate, provided it is permitted to tip downward in order toengage its points or teeth in the fabric.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The base-framehaving the stud or pin for engagement with the floor, in combinationwith the sliding plate, the toothed lever mounted on said plate, meansfor locking said on the framefand connected with the sliding plate, anda locking device for said lever, substantially as described and shown.

2. The longitudinallyslotted frame having .lever and the plate, thehand-lever mounted IOO the dependent stud or tooth, in combinationhand-lever provided with a ratchet-plate, m, 10 with the sliding plate,the curved toothed leand the bar or rod 0, pivoted to the sliding ver 9,mounted upon said plate, the dog 6, and plate and hand-lever andextended through the lever f, with its locking devices, substanthelatter, and the pawl Z, pivoted to the rear 5 tially as shown. end ofsaid bar, as described and shown.

- 3. In combination with the longitudinally- EDlVARD P. SHAFFER. slottedframe having the stud or tooth on its Vitnesses: under side, thereciprocating plate 01, the lever VVM. B. CRITTENDEN,

g, carrying teeth to engage the carpet, the l P. S. \VILsoN.

